Notice: This CMS-approved document has been submitted - Philips ...

CMS-1403-FC
In order to determine fair and reasonable payment for
cadaveric organ retrieval services, we solicited public
comments and data that are reflective of organ retrieval
service costs. We did not limit our solicitation to costs
associated with kidney retrieval services, but rather
stated that we are interested in receiving comments and
data pertaining to retrieval services for all types of
organs. We indicated that we may use this information to
determine the extent to which a recalculation of the
payment for cadaveric organ retrieval services furnished by
a physician is warranted and to inform any future
rulemaking on this subject. Any future rulemaking would
provide for notice and public comment.
We received four timely public comments in response to
our request for information and data for use in updating
the organ retrieval physician payment amount included in
organ acquisition costs. The following is a summary of the
comments we received and our responses.
Comment: The commenters believed that the kidney
retrieval rate of $1,250 per donor is insufficient and
three of the commenters recommended that we increase that
limit by either the Consumer Price Index for all urban
consumers (CPI-U) or the Medicare Economic Index. Two
commenters stated that little or no data on actual organ
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